THE family of Iraq hostage Ken Bigley last night made a dramatic plea to his kidnappers to show mercy and spare his life.

Mr Bigley's son, Craig, read out a statement in Liverpool shortly before midnight on behalf of the distraught family.

He made his plea four hours after terrorists linked to senior al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi released a video which showed Ken Bigley begging for Tony Blair to save his life.

Sitting between his uncles Stan. 65, and Philip, 59, Mr Bigley said: "We are making an appeal on behalf of Ken's 86-year-old mother and the rest of our family members. We have seen and heard Ken's pleas.

"Thank you for letting Ken make his appeal. All of the family are very grateful to you for his message.

"They wish you to say to Ken that they love him dearly and are waiting for him to come home to them.

"We have heard what you say and want to continue listening to you.

"You have proved to the world that you are committed and determined. Be merciful, as we know you can be. Release Ken back to his wife and family. We ask you as a family to be all merciful."

Craig and his uncles stared resolutely into the camera and appeared calm and composed while they delivered their appeal.

The statement was hammered out between the family and the Foreign Office following a series of crisis meetings between diplomats, negotiators and terrorism experts in Whitehall and Liverpool.

Earlier in the evening, Ken Bigley's brother, Phil, said: "It is a sigh of relief that Ken is still alive, so that's good news. It has to be good news.

"I have been in contact 24 hours a day with al-Jazeera television station and it is through them that this stay of execution has been secured."

Mr Bigley heavily criticised the American government for overriding an Iraqi decision to meet the kidnappers' demands and release two women prisoners.

He said: "The Americans have come in with their big boots and chewing gum and said they are not having it."

Mr Bigley said his family were "distraught", and added: "It's ridiculous. We are talking about someone's life."

He said: "Ken will be absolutely terrified and distraught. He has, I believe, the orange boiler suit on - that is the execution uniform." He added: "I do believe Tony Blair and Downing Street are doing all they can."

Earlier, Mr Bigley's brother, Paul, who works for Shell in the Netherlands, said the Government should be prepared to broker a deal with the hostage-takers.

He said: "They need to see it on television, they need to see females walking free.

"Hopefully they will pick this up on the media and show that they have a gram of decency in them by releasing Ken.

"I hope that my last message to them, telling them about these two ladies, recorded half an hour ago, will get through."

Mr Bigley said he had wanted to call for the release of the women prisoners from the moment his brother was kidnapped, but had been "suppressed" from speaking out.

Asked if he had been given any information by the Government about measures to secure his brother's release, he said: "The Government aren't

saying anything. They are keeping tightlipped about the whole thing."

Mr Bigley's cousin, Ken Jones, last night revealed the family had received dozens of call of support, including one from former Beirut hostage Terry Waite.

The family are passionate Everton supporters and last night the Goodison club said the thoughts and prayers of the management and supporters were with them.